An FDNY lieutenant who was shot while responding to a Staten Island fire is thanking his colleagues, family and the people of New York City.
Lt. James Hayes issued a statement Friday, two weeks after he was wounded by a Bloods gang member who was later killed after firing at police.
Hayes praises federal marshals, police officers and firefighters who rescued him despite the threat to their own safety.
He also thanks the mayor, fire and police commissioners, medical workers and others who've helped him and shown kindness to his family.
He says the love of his wife and children make him feel like "the luckiest man in the world."
Hayes was shot at about 6 a.m. Aug. 14, when firefighters responded to a report of smoke in a building where U.S. Marshals were attempting to execute a parole violation warrant against Garland Tyree, 38.
Hayes went into a basement apartment in the building to look for people inside and found Tyree hiding in the shower. That's when Tyree opened fire, hitting Hayes in the buttocks and ankle.
A neighbor of Hayes, Fran Kezner of Livingston, New Jersey, said the firefighter was "hardworking man who raised two great kids with his wife," SILive.com reported.
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Kezner also said Hayes helped out during Sandy when her home was flooded. Hayes comes from a family of civil servants with three brothers who are all firefighters, SILive.com noted.
He was the first firefighter to be shot on-duty in 21 years, according to SILive.com,
